Use of an accelerometer in evaluating arm movement during wheelchair propulsion.

A piezoelectric accelerometer was attached to the arm of a wheelchair bound subject to obtain information on arm movement during wheelchair propulsion. Five physically fit normal subjects, seated on a suspended wheelchair in a laboratory setting, propelled a wheelchair 60, 90 and 120 times/min in succession for a total of 4 min each. With increased frequency of arm propulsion, arm acceleration also increased. A statistically significant (P < 0.05) relationship was found between arm acceleration and frequency of arm propulsion showing a linear regression correlation of Y = 0.118X-1.122. A clinical trial using the same recording system for a paraplegic athlete on a 160 m two way (80 m each way) track confirmed the system's practicality. Arm acceleration data may be extrapolated to frequency of arm propulsion or level of activity information. Complete computerization of the accelerometric data will facilitate its expansion to a variety of practical applications.